Arguably 2014 was a watershed year in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) military space program. Up until this year the military space program was focused on delivering capability that could be used by the Navy, Army and Air Force as joint force enablers but rarely were those capabilities tightly integrated into operations, nor were they exploited to their maximum advantage. To do so requires a …
Read More »KidsArm the First Image‑Guided Robotic Surgical Arm Undergoing Testing
In a spinoff from the robotic technology developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) for the space program, a new robotic surgical tool, the KidsArm, is being tested for pediatric surgery at SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
Read More »The Transformation of MDA Into a Multinational Player – Part 1
In 2007 MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) made the assessment that the domestic space market wasn’t growing and that there was no long-term commitment to space by the Conservative government. As well, access to the U.S. market, critical for growth, was being stymied by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and security issues. At the same time MDA’s Information Products group was growing …
Read More »Video: An Overview of MDA's Geospatial Services
MDA has released a 13 minute video outlining what its Geospatial Services unit does. In 2013 the unit generated $148.8 million in revenue, about 8.2% of the companies total revenue of $1.82 billion.
Read More »MDA to Begin Building LIDAR for OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Mission
Today at press conference at the Royal Ontario Museum Treasury Board President Tony Clement announced that MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) will begin building the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) for the 2016 mission.
Read More »Sapphire Forms the Heart of the Canadian Space Surveillance System
It’s been a long wait but after completing extensive testing Canada’s first dedicated military satellite, Sapphire, is ready for service.
Read More »MDA to Provide Subsystem for the European Data Relay Satellite C
MacDonald , Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) announced on Monday that it signed a contract in excess of CA$4 million to provide OHB System AG with satellite communication electronics to be integrated into the EDRS-C telecommunication satellite as part of the European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system.
Read More »After Years in Storage CASSIOPE Satellite Set for Launch (Updated)
I bet you didn’t know that if you drove onto the West Island of Montreal via the Trans-Canada Highway, that in a nondescript building at MDA’s Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue office, on the north side of the highway, was a $140 million satellite securely stored and awaiting its mission the last few years.
Read More »Canada's New $5 Bill Unveiled In Space
Canada’s new and more secure $5 and $10 polymer bank notes were unveiled today at the Bank of Canada’s Ottawa head office, and from aboard the International Space Station. Both of the new notes will begin circulating, at the same time, this November.
Read More »MDA Satellite Contract Move Infuriates Government
In a move that has blindsided the government, MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) is considering not subcontracting a significant piece of the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) to Magellan Aerospace as was expected.
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